From the CourtPilot Law

Unilorin Rape/Murder Case: DSS gives details of suspects’ arrest

By Jimoh Sulyman

The Department of State Service (DSS), has narrated to the Kwara State High Court how the agency arrested all the eight defendants standing trial for alleged rape and murder of a Unilorin Student Olajide Omowumi Blessing through the use of technology.

The agency operative, Femi Babalola disclosed that DSS apprehended the defendants through tracking devices and intelligence gathering, saying location of one of the defendants girlfriend was first obtained which later served as lead to those who bought the phone and other items stolen from Blessing.

He also revealed to the court how the first prime suspect, AbdulAzeez Ismail contracted three others the following day of the tragic incident to help him unlock Blessing’s phone, withdraw money from her account and sell other items stolen from the deceased.

Details of how they conspired to transfer money from the late Blessing’s account through an Opay app to Kuda Bank and how one of them masked his face to change her ATM Card pin and withdrew money at a GTBank were also revealed.

According to the DSS operative, all the defendants were apprehended within eleven days of the murder of Blessing Olajide and they all confessed to various roles played in the rape, killing, selling and buying of items belonging to the deceased.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor’s attempt to tender and play the recorded video of the defendants’ confessional statements and field operation in the open court faced a stern objection from the defense counsels on the ground that a portion of the video was recorded by a third party who is not a staff of the DSS.

Justice Adebayo Yusuf however overruled their objections and admitted the video as exhibits to be played in the court while the matter was adjourned till Thursday and Friday,26th and 27th of this month for continuation of hearing.

It would be recalled that a witness from Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Babatunji Lawal, tendered the CCTV footage of the ATM point showing only the eyes and cap of one of the defendants despite using his palm to cover the ATM camera while using the stolen card.

Lawal, during the proceedings, identified the 6th defendant, Abdullateef Abdulrahman, as the suspect who used the ATM to withdraw the deceased’s money.

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